Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-12-24
THE PIE INDUSTRY.
How Washington IL Supplied With
Pies Tor the HOLIDAYS.
VISIT TO BAKERY-How PIES ARE MADE-rHR
FAvoRITE KISDs-ARE PIES UNHEALTHY VIEWS
OF A PIE MAN-MINCE NEAT FOR THE HOLIDAYS
PIE rABoOED AT SWELL DINNERS

PIE TAB0OED AT SWELL DINNERS.
There are some erroneous notions about mnce
pies. These relate mainly to their composition A
STAR man, in the interests Of Christmas dinners,
visited one or two of the largest pie establishments
The managers who would popularity be supposed to
know how mince pies, or at least how the mnce
meat, is made were interviewed. They had nothing
TO conceal and they desired on their part that
nothing should be set down In malice The STAR
reporter saw no signs OF that procession Of the
natural kingdom which is properly supposed TO
file ceaseeSsly In one end OF these establishments
and emerge from the other transformed into TOOTH
some pies There were no cats or dogs or even
cows waiting TO be ground up, and THE STAR man
was surprised. He did not ask where these sup
posed ingredients OF a mince pie were. He felt a
dellcacy about the matter. The pie men did not
even refer 10 the subject and spoke OF the guam
tlty or beef they used and mutton Suet in the most
matter OF fact manner. They seemed TO take IL as
matter OF course IL occurred To the reporter that
he might interview large dog that was wander
Ing about one Of these establishments in regard TO
centage could be attributed TO the pie industry.
But the dog was evidently employed TO interview
strangers and showed evidences OF sullen dispo-
sltl0n and 50 he was not mOested.
DIFFERENT KINDS OF PIES.
"You talk about mlnce pies said the proprietor
In an offended tone, "as II that was the only kind
OF pie made
swell, supposed" urged the reporter, "that
they were more generally used during the holiday
season."
"What is the matter with apple pies?" asked the
pie-man, IN an arguInentative tone.
'Nothlng at all =" the reporter fastened to reply
out are apple pies considered the thing for Christ
mas dinners?"
Certainly they are" was the response, in a
rather scornful tone. "Cords OF em are used, and
custard pies, too, and peach and cranberry pies,
and-and-oh! OF course, there are pumpkin pies v
I've call them pumpkin pies" he Went on, in a
conndentiai tone OF voice that made the reporter
w. IN lret m
10 the mysteries OF the business II there were any,
but you know we make them OF squash. They
taste just as well, and people don't know the diff
Terence. Pumpkin pies are supposed TO be New
England Industry, but they very popular here.
There Is no pie We make, with the exception Of
apple pie, that Is such favOrtte. / don't Ike To
Tell you how many we make every day, cause,
perhaps, you would not believe me. Tine fact Is,
we make between four and five hundred pies daily,
and the large proportion OF these are apple and
pumpkin PIES"
IN THE WORKSHOP.
While the pie man was talking he was leading
the way back into his kitchen, where the reporter
saw the cooks at work rolling out miles Of pie
crust, more or less, and dipping up the soft stun
coated pie dishes. In one END a great pile of
pies That mad come out OF the Oven ana IN another
were lot awaiting the baking process.
slou seem TO think that XInas Is a special pie
season, remarked the proprietor. IL nave not
found II 50. sell pies all the year round, Winter
anu summer. and the business Is growing con-
stantly. The demand Is not only from private
families and boarding houses but from these
lunch rooms or diaries that have increased so
rapidly In THIS city during the last few years. A
piece OF pie and cup OF milk is a luncheon that
suits the rich mans stomach and the poor mans
purse, and so these dalrieS are multiplying In
nVinOer ana are uolnS great business
WHAT Is THAT MAN DOING
over there?" asked the reporter. who was ov.ing
around while the pie man was talking.
The question seemed TO be regarded as an inter-
ruption OF valuable train OF thought, and the pie
man was evidently annoyed He said with painful
distinctneSs: THAT man Is peeliny apples He rs
seated by barrel OF apples. Did you suppose we
cooked the apples without pairing them? PROB
ably you thought that the apples, barrel and all.
were thrown into the kettle ana stewed.-
The reporter thought OF the Noahs ark process
sion that was popularity supposed 10 end In mInce
pies ana saw 20 reason why apple pies couli not be
dld not say 80. He fastened TO explain that he
n no irene reeG i upon the method OF maSing
man II ne Thought pies were healthy.
PIES NOT UNHEALTHY.
81 don't KNOW" was the rejonder 81 never
thought about IL. know that pies pay il a man
understands the business. They certainly agree
with me, and am considered a pretty healthy
man They seem 70 agree very well with people
\ generally, judging from the demand l nave NOT
heard that the mortality In this city has Increased
Lately, yet there are more pies eaten here to-day
than ever before. don't know whether tie medi-
cal profession has enlarged It's numbers during the
same period or not guess that pies are healthy
/ ii tney agree Win you Most things aren
rs there any particular Kind OF pie that is SUD-
posed 10 oe healthier Is compared with others?
asked the reporter. anxious 10 be FULLY informed.
| mo, should say not" said the philosophic pie
| man. what Is one mans meat Is another mans
poison Is probably the bedrock truth about pies
| Some kinds agree with people better than Others,
but II does not follow that any kind Is unhealthy
Then, besides, there is time 10 eat pie and then
again There Is time 10 let pie alone. A man who
| sits down about IL o'clock at night and eats 4
nan OF Inince pie Is popularity supposed to sc,
Ills grandiIOtler before morning, and he generally
dos guess But that Is no argument against pi.
ana wnen any one tells Ine about pie dlsa yreelna
with them always inquire into the particulars
anu hnd In nine cases out OF ten That they
DISAGREED WITH THE PIE
and not the pie with them. Then there Is another
idea abroad which Is that pie is vulgar. You neye
hear of pie being served at afternoon teas and II
| the menus OF these heightened dinners you neyc
4 see The word pIe. Society In other words mas sal
down Oh pes, and what was good enough for TIL
ffisrlfn Fathers and helped 10 sustain them IL
vulgar by the present generation. The secret O
this whole thing Is that people don't know how x
make god pies Their COOKS, even the French
cooks, are ignorant OF the art, and SO 10 concea
their want OF knowledge they say that pie
vulgar. 1 am trying 70 build up purely Ameri
ply families, DINERS, receptions and balls witt
pies OF every kind and variety AZ moderate prices
The reporter promised shat he would mentiO
the fact, and politely declining TO take a sampl
OF his skill, he babe the PIE man good day.
Wanted 10 Die Bsaere Chrisemas.
From Texas Siftinxs.
Col Witherspcon, Of Austin, dieo last Decem
her. His WAS hOnpleSa fror, he IFS, c.,